Ukrainian steel industry decline still slowiing

Ukraine's steel industry reduced finished roll output 18% year-on-year in January-November to 24.417 million tonnes, the Industrial Policy Ministry told Interfax. The industry cut roll output 30% year-on-year in January-August, 27% in January-September and 23% in January-October, so the latest figures indicate that the severe decline in the industry is still slowing.Crude steel production plummeted 23% in the 11 months to 27.008 million tonnes and pig iron fell 20% to 23.32 million tonnes.The country produced 1.458 million tonnes of steel pipes, down 35% year-on-year.Iron ore concentrate production fell 7% to 49.414 million tonnes; prepared iron ore fell 16% to 50.177 million tonnes, including pellets - 4% to 18.495 million tonnes and sinter ore - 22% to 31.682 million tonnes; and crude iron ore was down 12% to 59.335 million tonnes.Ukrainian coke production fell 14% to 15.824 million tonnes.Scrap deliveries to Ukrainian steel mills were down 27% from January-November last year to 4.099 million tonnes.Steel industry output in Ukraine started to plummet in August last year due to a drop in demand, particularly in October-December. Some steel mills stopped some of their capacity. However signs of improvement have been seen since May.Ukraine reduced finished roll output 13% in 2008 to 31.493 million tonnes. The country produced 37.107 million tonnes of crude steel and 30.982 million tonnes of pig iron, in both cases approximately 13% less than in 2007. It produced 2.456 million tonnes of steel pipes in 2008, 6% less.Iron ore concentrate production fell 7% to 56.696 million tonnes; prepared iron ore fell 12% to 63.452 million tonnes, including pellets - 9% to 20.401 million tonnes and sinter ore - 13% to 43.052 million tonnes; and crude iron ore - 7% to 71.721 million tonnes.Ukrainian coke production fell 5% to 19.465 million tonnes. Metalware production fell 30% to 299,000 tonnes. Scrap deliveries to Ukrainian steel mills were down 17% from 2007 to 5.824 million tonnes in 2008.